Monday, August 13, 2012

It's Our One Year Anniversary!

Funny all the hazy memories I have of times passed... yet, that meeting, I recall like it was yesterday.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when I headed downtown, laptop in hand, and met Danielle in her apartment building lobby. She was running a little late. (I have since learned it takes her about five times longer than me to get out the door. Anytime. Regardless of where we're going. She checks her bag about a dozen times, only to leave and realize she left something behind. It's crazy all the little things we now know about one another.) But we barely knew each other then and had only hung out in person two or three times. Still, we knew we had a common goal. In fact, I have it written at the top of a google doc that was last edited 335 days ago: "Help real girls figure it all out." That was all we needed to know to get us working on a weekend afternoon while so many others were at the beach, having lunch, and enjoying summer. We left her place and walked around the block to the Caribou Coffee on Kingsbury, found a small table near the window, and settled in for what would be a three-hour conversation. (The first of many.)

We began discussing... I had at least half a dozen questions for any idea she proposed (a regular habit of mine, as well, that she has likely grown all too familiar with). She mentioned her favorite quote from 13 Going on 30 and wanting to see real, relatable girls as inspiration. I mentioned wanting to see in-depth career profiles on accomplished women with dream jobs. The topic of Will this be a magazine or a website was greatly debated, and that debate continued for at least a month afterward, along with what the name should be...

Names we actually considered:
Nori
The Southport (this domain, believe it not, was available for $17,000!)
The Southport Stop
22
Twenty 2
She Creates
a few French words - things like "to create" "to grow" "to be" "to inspire" - that we realized no one would know how to pronounce or spell

Six months. It took us six months of discussion, planning, designing the site (which we did ourselves), figuring out how to build the website, registering as an LLC, planning features, reaching out to features, a trip to NYC, recruiting writers and photographers, and helping spread the word leading up to our February launch.

launch night // February 21, 2012

The rest you could say is history... The Everygirl has allowed us to meet, interview, and feature so many extremely talented women and personal role models. Bloggers, entrepreneurs, designers, stylists, PR execs, authors. We've launched a book club with Random House. We hosted our first event at BHLDN with partnerships from some of our favorite brands (Sprinkles Cupcakes! Smilebooth!). We flew to Boston and are headed to New York again next month. And tonight, exactly one year later, we are heading to the suburbs to work on a project with Banana Republic. A brand I've been wearing since I was in sixth grade! Crazy.

And while it's been one crazy and rewarding ride, by far the most important outcome is that we've done what we set out to do: inspire women. There are readers who have taken the time to send us emails, and handwritten notes, and comments, and Facebook and LinkedIn messages, and Tweets saying The Everygirl is the first site they check in the morning and our feature archives serve as constant reinforcement to follow their dreams. The Everygirl has inspired them to go back to school. To change careers. To start cooking or budgeting or investing or picking up a new hobby or starting a blog. So to all of you who took the time to write us, and everyone who logs on every day and heads over to TheEverygirl.com, thank you so much.

We are so honored and humbled our content inspires and empowers women. And we promise to strive to continue in our mission.

I specifically remember the day that you announced that you were coming out with The Everygirl. I immediately called my mom and told her all about it and said it was EXACTLY what I needed. The fact that I've gotten to be a part of it is seriously still hard for me to absorb. I am so proud to be a part of something that has offered girls (like myself) guidance and inspiration. Keep on keepin' on ladies :)

Congratulations on your accomplishments! I am always amazed by those who start their own businesses and are able to realize their goals and dreams. I subscribe to The Everygirl and enjoy reading it every morning - it's the perfect way for me to get motivated and inspired for my 9-7 job!

Congrats on the Everygirl! It has truly inspired me and I love reading all of the posts to get motivated to getting to where I'd love to be in the future. I'm so glad The Everygirl has seen so many successes and is recognized the way it deserves!

Happy anniversary!! As corny as it may sound the everygirl really inspired me to step out of my comfort zone more and actually start to turn into the woman I want to be!! Thank you for that!! xo Andrea

So thankful for that meeting one year ago...The Everygirl is definitely an incredible inspiration and resource for me and so many others. Enjoyed seeing some behind-the-scenes photos in this post! Thanks for everything =)